Research on Indicators of Forced Labor in the Production of Goods: A Multi-Country Study

Verité is pleased to release the following reports based on research carried out from 2008 through 2011 on the presence of indicators of forced labor in the production of shrimp in Bangladesh; brazil-nuts, cattle, corn, and peanuts in Bolivia; sugar in the Dominican Republic; coffee in Guatemala; fish in Indonesia; tuna in the Philippines; as well as on working conditions in the production of rubber in Liberia. Verité is also releasing a report on lessons learned during the research process.

The purpose of the research was to increase understanding about the nature of forced labor in the supply chains of a broad spectrum of goods in various countries around the world. The research aimed not to determine the existence or scale of forced labor in these countries and sectors, but rather to identify the presence of indicators of forced labor and factors that increase workers’ vulnerability to labor exploitation. The sectors and locations of production were chosen as an area of focus based on past reports of the presence of, or vulnerability to, forced labor that would benefit from further systematic research. Verité’s research was designed to lend more nuance and detail to existing understandings of these situations on-the-ground, to expand the body of research on forced and exploitative labor, and to raise awareness of stakeholders to the nature of the problem.

This project was funded by the United States Department of Labor under grant IL177760875K.